OSLO, NORWAY AND NORWEGIAN EXPLORERS!

Monday, August 17, 2026
Oslo, Norway
63F and sunny

Sunset sailing out of Oslo

Sunrise today from our balcony

Sailing into Oslo

Approaching Oslo on the Oslofjord

Delightful!

Oslo, the capital city of Norway and another cosmopolitan city! Our cruise ship docked near the center city, so we had an easy “on our own” walk into the hub. Of course, we stopped for coffee and shared a delicious cinnamon bun first.  Oslo has a population of about 700,000—and Norway—5.5 million.

Oslo Opera House

The Munch Museum (The Scream)

We couldn't do everything, but next time!

She Lies

The She Lies sculpture in the harbor is a floating glass and stainless steel structure that resembles an iceberg—created by artist Monica Bonvicini to evoke the power of ice and water in the high north. It rotates due to the influence of winds and tides. This sculpture is astounding!

Our first stop was a sleek train station, the largest one I have ever seen, that incorporates a huge mall with another huge mall right across the street. We were looking for Starbucks!  We could not resist walking through the mall, clothing stores, cosmetics shops, at least 5 grocery stores—3 small ones and 2 large ones), florists, furniture, vitamin shops. It was just like any mall but multiply Erie’s mall by at least 5. It actually seemed like the train station morphed into a mall—I didn’t get a photo!

[Aside to Ann and Jim—this is a train station to love!]

Traveling Man statue

outside the train station

Entrance to the train station

One of the smaller grocery stores

Three level mall

Men's fashion!

Outside-I do like public art!

We found Starbucks in the huge mall across the street, purchased our Oslo mug--

Why not Troll Coffee to fill the

Oslo Starbucks cup!

TK is always thinking

We decided to Uber to the Kon Tiki museum, 3 miles away. We were not going to walk that far.  When Janie was in her early teens, she read two books by Thor Heyerdahl—one was Kon Tiki. Briefly, the Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl theorized that early people could have sailed on a balsam log raft to the Polynesian Islands and he set out to prove it in 1947.  Heyerdahl and five other men constructed the boat and sailed for 101 days before smashing into a reef at Raroia, an atoll in French Polynesia in the Tuamotus.  All survived and returned safely.  This book must have piqued my sense of adventure as a 13 year old!  As it turned out, DNA has proven a link between Peruvian natives and those of French Polynesia.

Aku-Aku: The Secret of Easter Island  was written in 1957 by Thor Heyerdahl—and describes his investigation into Polynesdian history and culture on Easter Island and other areas. He studied the "moai," thousands of stone statues on one of the most isolated islands in the world.  Obvioulsy there is more to both books, but that is enough to possibly pique your interest. I am definitely going to reread those books. I surely never dreamed I would see a reconstruction of the Kon Tiki!

I am sure this is not a real 

"Easter Island maoi"

A replica of the Kon Tiki

I can picture 8 days on the 

Atlantic Ocean on the U.S. Brig Niagara

I cannot picture 101 days on the 

Kon Tiki on the Pacific Ocean

(closeup)

Kon Tiki--aft

There is actual footage of

the voyage---

On the high seas-count me in...

Another maoi

Heyerdahl built the Ra (made of reeds) 

for a voyage across the Atlantic, 

but it was not successful

Across the street from the Kon Tiki museum was the Fram Museum.  Why not learn about Norwegian exploration into the Arctic and Antarctic? This museum honors the polar exploration of the three great Norwegian explorers, Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, and Roald Amundsen.

The Fram—“forward” in Norwegian—is a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions between 1893 and 1912.

The Fram

The Fram, a 3 masted schooner

Janie on the 3 masted Fram

We toured the original Fram inside the museum, 70 ft. length and 20 ft beam. Its sides 4 ft.  thick made of oak.  There was lots of information about the journeys, the preparation, the sled dogs, the crew, the cold. We walked through an area that was like a freezer to experience the chill of an Arctic trip—although I am sure it wasn’t as cold and certainly not the length of time these men endured.  Roald Amundsen is also known for the three year journey he made with a crew of six on the Gjøa, the first vessel to transit the Northwest Passage.

We salute Norwegian explorers and their passion!

On the Uber ride back to the center city, we saw cows in a meadow, rolling hills, trees, and suburbs with apartments and single family homes.

Karl Johans Gate (street) 

We walked one more street near the train station and found Vaffelvogna! We enjoyed a folded soft waffle stuffed with strawberries, ice cream, and whipped cream (not from aerosol can).  I hope we find such a treat in Skagen, Denmark tomorrow!

Vaffelvogna

TK captured this amazing image

as we were sailing on the Oslo Fjord

10 p.m. Central European Summer Time

or 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time

TK’s Takes: He wished he had tried the brown cheese at the Vaffelvogna (like caramel).  He saw a large firehouse near the ship.  He bought a troll on Karl Johans Gate (street).  He said he really liked the Scandinavian countries, too bad there is a lot of winter.

VISBY, GOTLAND, SWEDEN: STEPPING INTO THE MIDDLE AGES!

Saturday, August 15, 2026
Visby, Gotland, Sweden
79F and sunny

One of the gates

 into Visby

First look inside!

Narrow passageways

Heading down!

Imagine who lived 

or worked here!

I want to take Visby home with me. It is a beautifully preserved medieval town on the Swedish island of Gotland, famous for its stunning 13th-century stone wall, Medieval church, and cobblestone streets.

The flag of Gotland

Visby has a permanent population of approximately 26,000 residents, while the wider island of Gotland has a population around 61,500 people. During the peak summer months, tourism causes this number to explode, drawing over 200,000 weekly visitors to the medieval streets.

This is the place to be for a Medieval Festival!  And, we discovered that Visby Medieval Week was last week, we just missed it. We missed eight days of jousting, knights on horseback, bands, archers, crafts (including medieval calligraphy), jesters, the fairy tale meadow, vendors, and medieval food!

I’m glad we took the shuttle to Visby ($14 RT/pp), because we walked and walked, walked downhill, uphill, and back downhill, then uphill again—no wonder we are walking between 10,000 and 15,000 steps a day! And I thought by now my creaky joints would be back in shape. Oops, birthday next month and I need a reality check as to how old I will be! TK is toughing it out too, with knee replacements, ankle pins, and upper femur pins. We just do it!

All the walking was worth it, because Visby is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Scandinavia and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.  Among its most notable historical remains are the 2.1 mile long town wall that encircles the town center.  There are a number of church ruins and interesting alleyways. Many of the stone houses are preserved in their original medieval style. Visby and Taillin (Estonia) are the only two North European towns in which the city’s medieval grid plan has been fully preserved into present day. 

These rams are everywhere

very photogenic

Saffranspannkaka here!

We found a bakery with a very good croissant, very strong coffee, and Saffranspannkaka—a traditional Swedish dessert from the island of Gotland. Made of rice pudding, cream, milk, sugar, eggs, almonds, and saffron, it is baked until golden. It is served with whipped cream and dewberry (salmbar) jam. The dish traces back to the Middle Ages and was a symbol of luxury due to the island’s trade connections.

Obviously the French have been here

because that was a very good croissant

will TK's photo of his choice momentarily

Close up of TK's

Saffranspannkaka

TK does not look medieval!

Refreshed with breakfast, we strolled along again.

Nearby was a shop that sold dewberry (salmbar) jam and TK definitely wanted to take that home!

Sights along the way!

In area called Stora Torget

Statue depicts a ruler or someone important 

Info in Swedish. I cannot 

find what these ruins were

P.S. I think the statue might be 

Erik of Pomerania

Back side of those ruins

I was completely smitten with the church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It was a Franciscan church and monastery, established by the Franciscan order in the mid-13th century and built in the medieval Gothic tradition. Erected at the heart of the town shortly after the market square was laid out, the church became a prominent religious house. It is said that Mary Magdalene’s relics were kept beneath the main altar.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, exterior

Interior, looking toward altar

Looking toward altar

Baptismal font,
separate room behind the altar

Looking up

Looking back from the altar

The friary began in 1233, and the church itself was finished around 1250 as a single, long, narrow nave. Construction continued with additions--the presbytery reached completion in 1388 and was consecrated in 1391. In 1402 six vaults of the nave gave way, and the nave was then rebuilt with new columns and vaulting. The surviving medieval presbytery was completed and consecrated in 1412.

The ruins present the outline of a medieval church that evolved from a single nave into a three-aisled hall. Walls of natural stone mark the footprint of a long church oriented toward the sea. There was a spiritual feel to the ruins of this church--people were quiet inside its walls. I could only imagine the skill and artisanship, plus the belief in God, that went into creating such a church in the Middle Ages.

We did not see St. Mary's Cathedral--the only medieval church still in active use today--we just could not find it. 

St. Mary's Cathedral, only medival church

still in use today--next trip!

Consecrated in 1225

Before returning to the ship, TK wanted to try authentic Swedish meatballs and shrimp with toast.

Toast Skagen

Shrimp with dill and bechamel 

cheese with exquisite toast

Klassica Kottbullar med henlaged potatismos

pressgurka, skirat smor

Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and gravy, and 

pressed cucumbers topped with cream cheese

Because of high winds, the ship did not leave the port as scheduled, but three hours later.

TK's Takes: He is exhausted and said he could not do another port. Thankfully we have a sea day tomorrow!  Also, he did not see any satellite dishes on homes in Visby.